ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the authors present their sociological theory and typology of awkwardness, building on extensive empirical research. First, they define awkwardness as the outcome of social interactions going wrong (drawing from the sociology of interactions), resulting in awkward feelings (drawing from the sociology of emotions), which are given cultural meaning through labeling – often using popular culture references (drawing from cultural sociology). Partially contradicting previous studies, awkwardness is three things all at once: (1) an emotion, (2) an outcome of a social interaction, and (3) culture. The authors develop a typology of awkwardness based on its main causes – a lack of a clear script, a deviation from a script, and a failed performance of a script – and the dimensions of time and space. This results in three temporal subtypes – time-off, odd-time, and no-flow – and three spatial subtypes of awkwardness – out-of-place, odd-stage, and no-show. Finally, the authors discuss the limitations of their study and provide avenues for future research regarding the nature of awkwardness, adhering to and performing social scripts, measuring awkwardness, and highlighting social inequalities in awkwardness.
